{"id":433633,"date":"2015-08-27T12:01:49","date_gmt":"2015-08-27T09:01:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.moldova.org\/?p=433633"},"modified":"2015-08-27T12:01:49","modified_gmt":"2015-08-27T09:01:49","slug":"how-does-moldova-compare-to-other-ex-soviet-countries-after-24-years-of-independence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.moldova.org\/en\/how-does-moldova-compare-to-other-ex-soviet-countries-after-24-years-of-independence\/","title":{"rendered":"How does Moldova compare to other ex-Soviet countries after 24 years of independence?"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

This year, Moldova is celebrating its Independence Day more pessimistic than ever. The theft of the billion euros, the subsequent economic and financial crisis, the change of prime ministers, the flourishing corruption and the cooling of relations with the EU are not exactly reasons for much enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

On this occasion, Moldova.ORG decided to compare Moldova with the other ex-Soviet countries and see where it stands after 24 years of independence.<\/p>\n

Our country was the 7th republic of the USSR to declare its independence. In the field of foreign relations, it seems that the sooner the countries became independent, the faster they moved westwards. The Baltic states are already in the EU, since 2004, while Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine have signed the EU Association Agreement and the DCFTA in 2014.<\/p>\n

Only Belarus, which proclaimed its independence two days earlier than Moldova, has a poorer relationship with the EU. Even the Partnership and Collaboration Agreement hasn’t yet been ratified by the EU, so that Belarus lags behind the Central Asian republics. Armenia had negotiated the Associated Agreement, but did a U-turn and opted for closer ties with Russia.<\/p>\n

As the Commonwealth of Independent States has continuously proved its inefficiency over years, Moscow has created the Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Union. Belarus and Kazakhstan are co-founders and Armenia and Kyrgyzstan are more recent members. Although Moldova is officially pursuing European integration, polls show that Russia’s Customs Union is a more popular alternative among the people. Thus, a change of government might easily bring a change of direction.<\/p>\n

With the exception of the Baltic countries, which are already members, Moldova is among the ex-Soviet countries that have good relations with NATO. Ukraine and Georgia have already reached the stage of Intensified Dialogue, while Moldova, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Azerbaijan have signed Individual Partnership Action Plans, considered a superior level to the Partnership for Peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u021aar\u0103<\/strong><\/td>\nIndependence Day
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		CIS<\/strong><\/td>\nRelationship with the EU
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		Customs Union \/ Eurasian Economic Union
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		NATO relations
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lithuania<\/td>\n11.03.1990<\/td>\nno<\/td>\nmember since 2004<\/td>\n<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Latvia<\/td>\n04.05.1990<\/td>\nno<\/td>\nmember since 2004<\/td>\n<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Georgia<\/td>\n09.04.1991<\/td>\nformer member<\/td>\nAssociation Agreement\/DCFTA 27.06.2013<\/td>\n<\/td>\nIntensified Dialogue<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Estonia<\/td>\n20.08.1991<\/td>\nno<\/td>\nmember since 2004<\/td>\n<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ukraine<\/td>\n24.08.1991<\/td>\nassociate<\/td>\nAssociation Agreement\/DCFTA 27.06.2013<\/td>\n<\/td>\nIntensified Dialogue<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Belarus<\/td>\n25.08.1991<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nPartnership and Collaboration Agreement, signed 1995, still not ratified<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nPartnership for Peace<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Moldova<\/td>\n27.08.1991<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nAssociation Agreement\/DCFTA 27.06.2013<\/td>\n<\/td>\nIndividual Partnership Action Plan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kyrgyzstan<\/td>\n31.08.1991<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nPartnership and Collaboration Agreement 1999<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nPartnership for Peace<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Uzbekistan<\/td>\n01.09.1991<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nPartnership and Collaboration Agreement 1999<\/td>\n<\/td>\nPartnership for Peace<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tajikistan<\/td>\n09.09.1991<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nPartnership and Collaboration Agreement 2010<\/td>\n<\/td>\nPartnership for Peace<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Armenia<\/td>\n21.09.1991<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nrefused to sign Association Agreement<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nIndividual Partnership Action Plan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Azerbaijan<\/td>\n18.10.1991<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nAssociation Agreement under negotiation<\/td>\n<\/td>\nIndividual Partnership Action Plan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Turkmenistan<\/td>\n28.10.1991<\/td>\nassociate<\/td>\nPartnership and Collaboration Agreement not yet ratified<\/td>\n<\/td>\nPartnership for Peace<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kazakhstan<\/td>\n16.12.1991<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nPartnership and Collaboration Agreement 1999<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nIndividual Partnership Action Plan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Russia<\/td>\n12.12.1991 – dissolution of USSR<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nPartnership and Collaboration Agreement 1997<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nPartnership for Peace<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

From an economic standpoint, although Moldova was praised with nostalgia as the “orchard of the USSR”, it has never been one of the richer republics. Immediately after independence, Moldova had the 11th largest GDP per capita in the former Soviet space. Today, it dropped a position and is the 12th, being bested by Armenia. Only Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are below us.<\/p>\n

The Baltic countries have had the most spectacular progress, surpassing Russia and occupying the top three spots. Still, it must be noted that Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania already had among the highest GDP per capita in 1992, right below Russia. Ukraine has suffered the biggest drop, from 7th to 11th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Country<\/strong><\/td>\nGDP per capita n 1992, current $ (World Bank data; *UN data)<\/strong><\/td>\nGDP per capita in 2014, current $ (World Bank data)<\/strong><\/td>\nGDP per capita ranking in ex-USSR 1992<\/strong><\/td>\nGDP per capita ranking n ex-USSR 2014<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Estonia<\/td>\n2801*<\/td>\n19719<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lithuania<\/td>\n2206*<\/td>\n16444<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Latvia<\/td>\n2319*<\/td>\n16038<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Russia<\/td>\n3095<\/td>\n12735<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kazakhstan<\/td>\n1515<\/td>\n12276<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Turkmenistan<\/td>\n824<\/td>\n9031<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Belarus<\/td>\n1666<\/td>\n8040<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Azerbaijan<\/td>\n676<\/td>\n7884<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Georgia<\/td>\n757<\/td>\n3670<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Armenia<\/td>\n368<\/td>\n3646<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ukraine<\/td>\n1417<\/td>\n3082<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Moldova<\/td>\n625<\/td>\n2233<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Uzbekistan<\/td>\n603<\/td>\n2037<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kyrgyzstan<\/td>\n513<\/td>\n1269<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tajikistan<\/td>\n345<\/td>\n1099<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

As regards population, somewhat surprisingly, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have suffered the biggest demographical drop. According to UN data, Moldova’s population has decreased only by 7% between 1992 and 2014, but there is a big chance that the UN is overestimating Moldova’s current population. They say we have 4 million people, the National Bureau of Statistics says 3,55 million. If the BNS is right, we are in the same pot with the Baltic countries, demographically at least.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Country<\/strong><\/td>\n1992 population, millions (UN data)
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		2014 population, millions (UN data)
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		Difference, %
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Russia<\/td>\n148<\/td>\n143<\/td>\n-3,38%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Estonia<\/td>\n1,52<\/td>\n1,31<\/td>\n-13,82%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Latvia<\/td>\n2,61<\/td>\n1,98<\/td>\n-24,14%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lithuania<\/td>\n3,69<\/td>\n2,91<\/td>\n-21,14%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Belarus<\/td>\n10,23<\/td>\n9,5<\/td>\n-7,14%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kazakhstan<\/td>\n16,4<\/td>\n17,3<\/td>\n5,49%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ukraine<\/td>\n51,31<\/td>\n45<\/td>\n-12,30%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Turkmenistan<\/td>\n3,88<\/td>\n5,3<\/td>\n36,60%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Georgia<\/td>\n5,34<\/td>\n4,03<\/td>\n-24,53%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Azerbaijan<\/td>\n7,45<\/td>\n9,63<\/td>\n29,26%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Moldova<\/td>\n4,37<\/td>\n4,07<\/td>\n-6,86%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Uzbekistan<\/td>\n21,4<\/td>\n29,47<\/td>\n37,71%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kyrgyzstan<\/td>\n4,47<\/td>\n5,84<\/td>\n30,65%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Armenia<\/td>\n3,45<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n-13,04%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tajikistan<\/td>\n5,52<\/td>\n8,29<\/td>\n50,18%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

In the ex-Soviet space, Moldova doesn’t seem to be a special case. Truly closer ties with the EU are only a recent development and it isn’t yet clear what the practical effects of this closure will be or even if it lasts.<\/p>\n

Economically, Moldova has shown stability in mediocrity. It was among the lowest ranked ex-Soviet countries in 1992 and in 2014 as well.<\/p>\n

Demographically, we are also a typical country for this space, where the only exception are the Muslim republics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reading Time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>This year, Moldova is celebrating its Independence Day more pessimistic than ever. The theft of the billion euros, the subsequent economic and financial crisis, the change of prime ministers, the flourishing corruption and the cooling of relations with the EU are not exactly reasons for much enthusiasm. On this occasion, Moldova.ORG decided to compare Moldova […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":177028,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-433633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-important-en"],"content_social_share":"Reading Time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

This year, Moldova is celebrating its Independence Day more pessimistic than ever. The theft of the billion euros, the subsequent economic and financial crisis, the change of prime ministers, the flourishing corruption and the cooling of relations with the EU are not exactly reasons for much enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

On this occasion, Moldova.ORG decided to compare Moldova with the other ex-Soviet countries and see where it stands after 24 years of independence.<\/p>\n

Our country was the 7th republic of the USSR to declare its independence. In the field of foreign relations, it seems that the sooner the countries became independent, the faster they moved westwards. The Baltic states are already in the EU, since 2004, while Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine have signed the EU Association Agreement and the DCFTA in 2014.<\/p>\n

Only Belarus, which proclaimed its independence two days earlier than Moldova, has a poorer relationship with the EU. Even the Partnership and Collaboration Agreement hasn’t yet been ratified by the EU, so that Belarus lags behind the Central Asian republics. Armenia had negotiated the Associated Agreement, but did a U-turn and opted for closer ties with Russia.<\/p>\n

As the Commonwealth of Independent States has continuously proved its inefficiency over years, Moscow has created the Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Union. Belarus and Kazakhstan are co-founders and Armenia and Kyrgyzstan are more recent members. Although Moldova is officially pursuing European integration, polls show that Russia’s Customs Union is a more popular alternative among the people. Thus, a change of government might easily bring a change of direction.<\/p>\n

With the exception of the Baltic countries, which are already members, Moldova is among the ex-Soviet countries that have good relations with NATO. Ukraine and Georgia have already reached the stage of Intensified Dialogue, while Moldova, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Azerbaijan have signed Individual Partnership Action Plans, considered a superior level to the Partnership for Peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u021aar\u0103<\/strong><\/td>\nIndependence Day
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		CIS<\/strong><\/td>\nRelationship with the EU
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		Customs Union \/ Eurasian Economic Union
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		NATO relations
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lithuania<\/td>\n11.03.1990<\/td>\nno<\/td>\nmember since 2004<\/td>\n<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Latvia<\/td>\n04.05.1990<\/td>\nno<\/td>\nmember since 2004<\/td>\n<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Georgia<\/td>\n09.04.1991<\/td>\nformer member<\/td>\nAssociation Agreement\/DCFTA 27.06.2013<\/td>\n<\/td>\nIntensified Dialogue<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Estonia<\/td>\n20.08.1991<\/td>\nno<\/td>\nmember since 2004<\/td>\n<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ukraine<\/td>\n24.08.1991<\/td>\nassociate<\/td>\nAssociation Agreement\/DCFTA 27.06.2013<\/td>\n<\/td>\nIntensified Dialogue<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Belarus<\/td>\n25.08.1991<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nPartnership and Collaboration Agreement, signed 1995, still not ratified<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nPartnership for Peace<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Moldova<\/td>\n27.08.1991<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nAssociation Agreement\/DCFTA 27.06.2013<\/td>\n<\/td>\nIndividual Partnership Action Plan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kyrgyzstan<\/td>\n31.08.1991<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nPartnership and Collaboration Agreement 1999<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nPartnership for Peace<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Uzbekistan<\/td>\n01.09.1991<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nPartnership and Collaboration Agreement 1999<\/td>\n<\/td>\nPartnership for Peace<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tajikistan<\/td>\n09.09.1991<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nPartnership and Collaboration Agreement 2010<\/td>\n<\/td>\nPartnership for Peace<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Armenia<\/td>\n21.09.1991<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nrefused to sign Association Agreement<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nIndividual Partnership Action Plan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Azerbaijan<\/td>\n18.10.1991<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nAssociation Agreement under negotiation<\/td>\n<\/td>\nIndividual Partnership Action Plan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Turkmenistan<\/td>\n28.10.1991<\/td>\nassociate<\/td>\nPartnership and Collaboration Agreement not yet ratified<\/td>\n<\/td>\nPartnership for Peace<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kazakhstan<\/td>\n16.12.1991<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nPartnership and Collaboration Agreement 1999<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nIndividual Partnership Action Plan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Russia<\/td>\n12.12.1991 – dissolution of USSR<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nPartnership and Collaboration Agreement 1997<\/td>\nmember<\/td>\nPartnership for Peace<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

From an economic standpoint, although Moldova was praised with nostalgia as the “orchard of the USSR”, it has never been one of the richer republics. Immediately after independence, Moldova had the 11th largest GDP per capita in the former Soviet space. Today, it dropped a position and is the 12th, being bested by Armenia. Only Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are below us.<\/p>\n

The Baltic countries have had the most spectacular progress, surpassing Russia and occupying the top three spots. Still, it must be noted that Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania already had among the highest GDP per capita in 1992, right below Russia. Ukraine has suffered the biggest drop, from 7th to 11th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Country<\/strong><\/td>\nGDP per capita n 1992, current $ (World Bank data; *UN data)<\/strong><\/td>\nGDP per capita in 2014, current $ (World Bank data)<\/strong><\/td>\nGDP per capita ranking in ex-USSR 1992<\/strong><\/td>\nGDP per capita ranking n ex-USSR 2014<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Estonia<\/td>\n2801*<\/td>\n19719<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lithuania<\/td>\n2206*<\/td>\n16444<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Latvia<\/td>\n2319*<\/td>\n16038<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Russia<\/td>\n3095<\/td>\n12735<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kazakhstan<\/td>\n1515<\/td>\n12276<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Turkmenistan<\/td>\n824<\/td>\n9031<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Belarus<\/td>\n1666<\/td>\n8040<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Azerbaijan<\/td>\n676<\/td>\n7884<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Georgia<\/td>\n757<\/td>\n3670<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Armenia<\/td>\n368<\/td>\n3646<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ukraine<\/td>\n1417<\/td>\n3082<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Moldova<\/td>\n625<\/td>\n2233<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Uzbekistan<\/td>\n603<\/td>\n2037<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kyrgyzstan<\/td>\n513<\/td>\n1269<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tajikistan<\/td>\n345<\/td>\n1099<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

As regards population, somewhat surprisingly, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have suffered the biggest demographical drop. According to UN data, Moldova’s population has decreased only by 7% between 1992 and 2014, but there is a big chance that the UN is overestimating Moldova’s current population. They say we have 4 million people, the National Bureau of Statistics says 3,55 million. If the BNS is right, we are in the same pot with the Baltic countries, demographically at least.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Country<\/strong><\/td>\n1992 population, millions (UN data)
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		2014 population, millions (UN data)
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		Difference, %
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Russia<\/td>\n148<\/td>\n143<\/td>\n-3,38%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Estonia<\/td>\n1,52<\/td>\n1,31<\/td>\n-13,82%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Latvia<\/td>\n2,61<\/td>\n1,98<\/td>\n-24,14%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lithuania<\/td>\n3,69<\/td>\n2,91<\/td>\n-21,14%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Belarus<\/td>\n10,23<\/td>\n9,5<\/td>\n-7,14%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kazakhstan<\/td>\n16,4<\/td>\n17,3<\/td>\n5,49%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ukraine<\/td>\n51,31<\/td>\n45<\/td>\n-12,30%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Turkmenistan<\/td>\n3,88<\/td>\n5,3<\/td>\n36,60%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Georgia<\/td>\n5,34<\/td>\n4,03<\/td>\n-24,53%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Azerbaijan<\/td>\n7,45<\/td>\n9,63<\/td>\n29,26%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Moldova<\/td>\n4,37<\/td>\n4,07<\/td>\n-6,86%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Uzbekistan<\/td>\n21,4<\/td>\n29,47<\/td>\n37,71%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kyrgyzstan<\/td>\n4,47<\/td>\n5,84<\/td>\n30,65%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Armenia<\/td>\n3,45<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n-13,04%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tajikistan<\/td>\n5,52<\/td>\n8,29<\/td>\n50,18%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

In the ex-Soviet space, Moldova doesn’t seem to be a special case. Truly closer ties with the EU are only a recent development and it isn’t yet clear what the practical effects of this closure will be or even if it lasts.<\/p>\n

Economically, Moldova has shown stability in mediocrity. It was among the lowest ranked ex-Soviet countries in 1992 and in 2014 as well.<\/p>\n

Demographically, we are also a typical country for this space, where the only exception are the Muslim republics.<\/p>\n

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